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Europe Is Conducting Social Experiments On Basic Income

Europe Is Conducting Social Experiments On Basic Income

Credit: BBC

At University of Oklahoma Europe Is Conducting Social Experiments On Basic Income

Pin It Will the U.S. do the same? Free stuff. We all like free stuff: food, clothes, gifts, etc. One thing that we probably like getting for free, without working or having to earn it, is money. Everyone likes getting money for free. However, many people have to work and have a job in order to earn money.But what if you didn’t have to do anything to earn money? What if you knew you would receive a guaranteed basic income? Guaranteed basic income is […]

SWITZERLAND: World Economic Forum founder considers basic income “basically plausible”

SWITZERLAND: World Economic Forum founder considers basic income “basically plausible”

Economist Klaus Schwab , founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, expressed optimism about unconditional basic income (bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen) in an interview with Hamburger Abendblatt , a daily newspaper in Hamburg, Germany . Schwab called the idea “basically plausibly” and predicted that discussion about it would develop over the next decade.

The Hamburger Abendblatt interview covered a range of topics related to globalization and digitalization. At one point, the reporters asked Schwab about his assessment of US President Donald Trump’s contention that he will bring back jobs from Asia and Mexico. In reply, Schwab pointed out that some […]

Will Jaitley take a cue from J&K and opt for Universal Basic Income in the budget?

Will Jaitley take a cue from J&K and opt for Universal Basic Income in the budget?

A file photo of Union finance minister Arun Jaitley. Photo: Reuters New Delhi: Days before the Union budget which will be presented in the backdrop of disruptions caused by the demonetisation drive, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government became the first to commit to a Universal Basic Income for all citizens living below the poverty line by providing direct benefit transfers, raising expectations that finance minister Arun Jaitley may follow suit.

In his third budget speech on Wednesday, J&K finance minister Haseeb Drabu said he would want to create a social security fund and provide a “Universal Basic Income” to […]

Budget 2017: Government likely to consider dole for jobless poor

Budget 2017: Government likely to consider dole for jobless poor

Government could consider in this year’s Budget a targeted cash dole of Rs 5,000 a year for each jobless person. (AP Photo) The government could consider in this year’s Budget a targeted cash dole of Rs 5,000 a year for each jobless person from the poorest sections of society.

But to implement the scheme the government will have to dig into funds for a host of subsidies such as food, health and fuel.

The unemployment benefit is planned as a substitute for the universal basic income (UBI), which some countries are considering but India doesn’t have funds to go ahead with.“We […]

Jammu and Kashmir commits to ‘Universal Basic Income’ for state’s poor in budget

Jammu and Kashmir commits to 'Universal Basic Income' for state's poor in budget

Image credit: Reuters- File photo Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu on Wednesday said citizens living below the poverty line would soon have access to a Universal Basic Income, which would prevent wastage of funds through a range of schemes. The proposal’s future, the minister said, depends on procedural clearances. He made the announcement while presenting the state’s Rs 80,000-crore budget for 2017-2018.

The Universal Basic Income programme involves the setting up of a social security fund to provide the “Universal Basic Income” to citizens in the below-the-poverty-line category via a direct beneficiary transfer system, The Greater Kashmir reported.

There […]

Robots and automation ‘will put people out of work’

Robots and automation ‘will put people out of work’

The advance of robots in factories could put human beings out of work as automation gathers pace Economists have warned that Scotland’s skills support system will need to adapt to cope with greater use of automation and robotics.

Graeme Roy, director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, told the Scottish affairs committee in Westminster that technological advances would offer opportunities to boost the economy and employment.

However, giving evidence as part of an inquiry into sustainable employment, he warned that “there will be people who will be replaced by automation”. Professor Roy said that those changes would require a rethink about […]

Off the Rock and under the radar

Off the Rock and under the radar

South Sudanese refugees flee a United Nations base while under attack in Malakai last February. (Justin Lynch/AFP/Getty Images) Welcome to The Beachcomber’s new weekly offering of noteworthy, non-Vashon news stories from around the world and closer to home, that you might have missed in the noise of the latest media melt down.

Europe: Do you think basic income is a good idea? Finland has just launched a two-year pilot study of basic income for its unemployed citizens in an effort to find out. It is the first country-wide trial of its kind in the western world, though as […]

Jammu and Kashmir commits to idea of Universal Basic Income

Jammu and Kashmir commits to idea of Universal Basic Income

J&K finance minister Haseeb Drabu (left) ahead of the state budget presentation on Wednesday. Photo: PTI New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) became the first to commit to a “Universal Basic Income” to all citizens living below poverty line by providing direct benefit transfers.

Presenting his third budget and the first by any state for 2017-18, J&K finance minister Haseeb Drabu said a UBI instead of a plethora of social sector schemes will not only eliminate leakages but also dramatically reduce the cost of delivery.

The idea is consistent with the finance minister’s plans to recast the state budget to focus […]

Guaranteed income best for those with disabilities

Guaranteed income best for those with disabilities

The faces of poverty The Ontario government is conducting an online survey to find out what you think about a no-strings-attached basic income as a way to reduce poverty. It’s a step on the road to a pilot project that could last up to three years.

At the risk of spoiling the suspense, I’m going to say giving people more money will reduce poverty. The questions are, would a guaranteed annual income be good public policy and does the government have the money to follow through?

Ontario is following up on a report from former senator Hugh Segal and is prepared […]

UBI vs DBT: Universal Basic Income works only if all sops removed

UBI vs DBT: Universal Basic Income works only if all sops removed

More than the money, UBI is a radically different approach since people are free to make their choices instead of the government. (ANI image) While the government is being egged on to try a version of Universal Basic Income (UBI), the exercise only works if all existing subsidies are ended. If not, UBI becomes just another expensive subsidy, much like the UPA’s Food Security Act. How expensive depends on what version of UBI is used, though all suggest a modified one where, not all, but a large section of the population gets it. Vijay Joshi talks of R3,500 per […]